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Pure Michigan Website No. 1 for 7th year in a row

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Treetops Resort in Gaylord is enjoying great success this winter with its record snowfall. But it also gets a boost in golf and winter activities with its partnership with Travel Michigan. The michigan.org website was ranked the No. 1 state tourism website in the country for the 7th year in a row.
(John Gonzalez/MLive.com)

According to Hitwise, michigan.org’s market share of 6.12 percent of all the web traffic to state tourism websites was the best in the nation. Others in the Top 5: Virginia, Florida, Arkansas and Hawaii.

Michigan.org recorded more than 9 million web visits in 2013, up from 8.8 million web visits in 2012.

"That means very good things, not only for the website and for Travel Michigan, but for the people of Michigan," he said, noting it increases business in all aspects of tourism.

And it means retaining and creating jobs.

"That's really what we're all about," he added. "We're about doing all we can to revitalize this state...and the leisure business is a big reason that Michigan is doing a lot better these days than we have in years."

Barry Owens, the general manager at Treetops Resort in Gaylord, said he sees first-hand what the campaign has done to tourism in Northern Michigan. Like many ski and golf resorts, occupancy has increased tremendously over the last few years.

He said the Travel Michigan partnership has been a win-win for all involved.

"It's been incredible," he said. "We're a winter and summertime partner, and we can't say enough good things for what the whole program has done for tourism in the state of Michigan."

Barry Owens, general manager at Treetops Resort in Gaylord, and Dave Lorenz of Travel Michigan, talk about Michigan.org being recognized as the top state tourism website for the 7th consecutive year by Experian Hitwise.John Gonzalez/MLive.com

Seasonal weather also helps boost tourism. He said the Gaylord area received 95 inches of snow in December.

"We're off to our best start in decades," he added. "People need to get up and enjoy Northern Michigan."

And the Michigan.org website offers links and information to find these locations.

“The michigan.org website has always been, and continues to be the flagship of the Pure Michigan campaign,” said George Zimmermann, Vice President of Travel Michigan, part of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, in a release.

“For many visitors, michigan.org is one of their first introductions to the state. We have worked hard to make it a place with an abundance of information, terrific visuals and most importantly a helpful place to plan a Pure Michigan vacation.”

In addition to the 9 million web visits, consumers used the site an average of nearly 25,000 times per day, according to the research. Click-through rates from michigan.org to other Michigan tourism industry sites averaged nearly 13,000 clicks per day and 4.7 million clicks for the year.